Letters to the Editor
Average Hawaiian needed in policy-making process
I would like to respond to Jared Jossem's March 22 and Darwin Ching's March 27 letters. Both allege that I was given an opportunity to aid in constructing the Hawai'i Republican Party platform but that I declined to participate.
Jossem states that he, Mary George, Barbara Marumoto and Jane Tatibouet met at the Airport Plaza Hotel to discuss Hawaiian concerns and that I was invited but failed to show up.
Jossem fails to mention that I declined his invitation because no Hawaiian leaders (besides myself) were to be present at that meeting. I felt it was inappropriate for a group of non-Hawaiians to sit down with one Hawaiian and try to shape policy that would affect Hawaiians directly. Hawaiian homesteaders, sovereignty leaders and Hawaiians from within the community should have been present. If Jossem's meeting were not held in a vacuum and was instead more inclusive, I would have gladly accepted his invitation.
My letter aimed to point out that the average Hawaiian was left out of the decision-making process involved in shaping the Hawai'i GOP platform. Had all Hawaiians been given an opportunity to voice their concerns, I would have been the first one to jump on board to offer my assistance.
Whitney T. Anderson
Waimanalo
Why are bottlers fighting way to keep state clean?
While attending a House Finance Committee meeting one Friday, it dawned on me that Coke, Pepsi and Bud are obviously making a fortune selling corn-syrup water and beechwood in Iowa, Oregon, Vermont, Michigan and the rest of the 10 bottle refund states, so why are these bottlers spending millions to fight a law that paradise needs so badly?
Do they like beverage-container litter on all our streets, parks and beaches? Where is their sensitivity to beauty for Hawai'i?
Maybe they will respond to this letter — somehow we need to "smoke them out" and get them running (in support of the bottle bill).
William Reese Liggett
Device offers alternative for parents, youngsters
Regarding negative comments on motorized standing scooters: Hundreds of parents have purchased these motorized "go-ped" scooters for transportation for their children to and from school, baseball practice, etc.
They have invested hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on them for their children's sake. These scooters bring an essential transportation alternative to coincide with parents' modern working lifestyles.
Youngsters also take pride and feel a sense of responsibility when owning and operating these scooters. This aids in fostering a positive role in society, turning them away from street gangs and substance abuse.
Many parents have used these scooters as successful incentives to youngsters for keeping up their grades and excelling in school.
Growing up in today's world is far more difficult than it was 20 or 40 years ago. We all should work toward giving our kids a break and helping them constructively, instead of condemning everything new and seemingly strange to us.
Albert T. Young
Scooter Alley Hawai'i
Preventing tragedy may have to start in schools
Sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by heterosexual and homosexual predators and pedophiles. The American Psychiatric Association position in a March 23 article is that pedophilia involves pre-pubescent children.
Molestation involving heterosexual predators is more common than that involving homosexuals (one girl in four is sexually abused by age 18). A recent Advertiser article, however, ignores scientific data showing that, although only about 2 percent to 3 percent of males practice homosexuality, they are at least 10 times more likely than heterosexuals to molest children.
With this tragic issue made more visible lately by some errant clergy, society needs to counter effectively the sexual molestation of both boys and girls. The focus should be on protecting children rather than coddling predators. This can be done in part by making schools as free as possible of sexual awareness and experimentation, both precursors to abuse, and by neutralizing other conditions that allow sexual abuse to exist.
Phillip C. Smith, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
State laws should mirror federal statutes
It seems as though the Republicans have organized a letter-writing campaign attacking state Rep. Brian Schatz.
Deron Akiona's latest letter suggests that Schatz's attempt to have our state campaign finance laws mirror federal state campaign finance laws will be unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld laws that limit campaign contributions from corporations.
Isn't it about time that our state laws aimed at preventing campaign spending abuses be at least as strict as federal law?
David Kimo Frankel
Volcano, Big Island
Systems in other cities can be model for Hawai'i
As an expatriate of Hawai'i now living in Seattle, I was interested when I heard of talk in Honolulu of adding ferry services in the Islands.
Imagine being able to drive your car onto a ferry in Honolulu Harbor and two hours later drive off onto Maui or any other island. Passenger fares would offset a great deal of the cost associated with such a system.
Here in Seattle, and all over Puget Sound, ferries are a great way to get around and have made themselves indispensible to the residents of Washington. Just over the border to the north, British Columbia runs a ferry fleet larger than the Canadian Navy. The cities and people of the area stay connected with the help of the ferry systems.
Commerce, tourism and quality of life in Hawai'i all stand to benefit from a ferry system. Tourists to Hawai'i could land on any island, rent a car and then not have to go through the trouble of interisland air travel. Residents, too, could more easily get away to the Neighbor Islands for a weekend.
A project like this would do a lot to attract new visitors and capital to the Islands.
Kerry Wallace
Society becoming more accepting of gays
Shelly Bowne claims that homosexuality will never be accepted by society (Letters, March 29), and her only proof is the 1998 constitutional amendment. The only thing that vote proved was that, if you spend enough money, you can buy anything, even legal discrimination.
Bowne needs to take off the blinders and look at what is happening around this country if she does not think there has been a societal change in the way that most people view homosexuality.
What am I talking about? Well, how about civil unions in Vermont and California, or the overturning of the ban on gays being allowed to adopt children?
If that is not enough, a 1999 Gallup Poll showed that 52 percent of those surveyed viewed homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. Compare that to a 1982 Gallup Poll, where only 34 percent of those surveyed viewed homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.
So there is a societal change in the way that most people view homosexuality, whether Bowne and company want to believe it or not.
Michael Golojuch Jr.
Makakilo
Why are these facilities different than others?
I am glad the city has made an effort to build the much needed skateboarding facilities in Hawai'i.
I don't understand why the skateparks are getting such negative attention. As a skateboarder, I know the risks involved, and the numerous injuries have never made me or anyone I know want to sue this or any other government.
Why aren't people concerned about tennis or basketball players getting injured on public courts and looking to sue the state? What about golf courses, jogging trails, bike paths, playgrounds, soccer fields or any other place built by the city or state for the public to enjoy?
Joshua Shuman
Thought police instead of traffic cops?
Your March 29 editorial on roads and public transportation more sharply reveals your political philosophy and agenda. To quote from your editorial: "In addition to 'hard' improvements such as better and more appealing public transportation, Honolulu will have to look at approaches that modify behavior."
Like Orwell's "1984," The Advertiser advocates the thought police to modify our behavior and lead us like sheep to the liberals' concept of utopia.
Jim Poole
Mayor Harris choosing his image over potholes
It's bad enough to have to drive a new car over what we laughingly call our streets, roads, lanes and byways. But if you have to ride Handi-Vans, which have poor or no shock absorbers, as I do on a daily basis, you quickly will ask why our governor "wannabe" Jeremy Harris concentrates on Sunday brunches and 'Ewa Village excuses over talk about the thousands of potholes and deep ruts and cracked surfaces everywhere.
Instead of spending so much money trying to leave a legacy of bandstands, fountains, fancy street lights, soccer fields, outdoor skateboard rinks and on-camera announcements about anything, let Mayor Harris and members of the City Council spend three hours riding over their great streets without pillows to comfort them.
How about it, Mr. Mayor: Have you ridden your streets around town enough to get the message?
Bob Cole
Thoughtless owners create mess for others
My dog and I have just returned from our daily walk on Sandy Beach. I realize I am breaking the "no animals" rule, but I keep my dog leashed and I clean up after her. I always bring a big plastic bag because I know I will have plenty of picking up to do.
Today, I cleaned up after six thoughtless owners. Yesterday, my friend picked up after four. When we took our dogs to our local soccer field yesterday we picked up after four others. It is no wonder dogs are not welcomed in public places.
It seems otherwise normal humans would think it appropriate to leave their dog wastes wherever they lie. Would they allow their children to do the same?
We are absolutely mystified and annoyed.
Marjorie Goodloe and Helene Hilbourne
Making sense of budget reporting
Due to editing, my recent letter arguing that the public has been misled about the true size of the state's operating budget lost its central point. The editing also resulted in inaccuracies that were not in the original letter. What I originally wrote follows:
Your March 21 article regarding the state operating budget (House Bill 1800), just passed by the state House, told less than half the story. This budget, which is for the last year of our two-year budget, proposes to spend $7.4 billion of public money. Your article indicates that it "would authorize spending of about $3.56 billion next year."
This error is serious. Many elected leaders are working hard to keep the facts of state spending obscure and your under-reporting of our budget supports and adds to that obscurity.
Our state operating budget (or the Executive Budget) has grown from $5.3 billion in 1995 (Gov. Waihe'e's last budget) to $7.4 billion today (Gov. Cayetano's last budget) — a phenomenal increase of 39 percent in eight years. This increase exceeds any reasonable financial measure such as inflation, gross domestic product, real wages, etc.
This growth in spending (and taking) public money is especially troublesome since our economy has been lackluster over this time and there is no doubt that the phenomenal growth of the state budget has contributed to our economy's poor performance.
Our general fund budget is about $3.5 billion per year, and presumably that is the fund to which you referred. This is less than half of our total budget, which includes hundreds of special funds that add spending to every department. Thousands of state workers and many important programs are funded through these special funds.
Your readers are the source of many excellent ideas for our community. To be effective, they need the foundation of facts and the whole story.
Rep. Chris Halford
R-11th (Makena, Kula, Kihei)
